Damen Shipyards Group, together with partners including Atal Solutions has completed its retrofit of four bulk carriers for BAM Shipping.
The project has involved the integration of a series of efficiency boosting technologies and is expected to lower the vessels’ fuel consumption and emissions significantly.
The retrofit is the first time that all of the various solutions have been used in a single retrofit project. In aiming to reduce fuel consumption, the project has maintained five main focal points: resistance in the water, optimising power usage, enhancing propulsion, cutting emissions and lubrication systems.
Initially, the plan was to install solutions, including the Damen Air Cavity System (DACS) marine lubrication system, the Damen Triton IoT solution, low friction anti-fouling paint, variable frequency drives, shore power connectivity, LED lamps, a wake equalising pre- and post swirl duct, CO2 capture systems and DEX QM lubrication technology.
Collectively, the project partners anticipated that these measures would reduce fuel consumption by 20-25%, with a reduction in emissions of around 90%. However, during the project, the scope was broadened yet further with the inclusion of four more efficiency boosting solutions.
These were the inclusion of fuel additives, oil lubricant additives, a Hempel propeller coating, and use of nano EFX. This spray solution is applied to the engine’s air intake, ionizing humidity and ensuring optimal fuel combustion, minimising consumption, emissions and carbon deposits.
In the coming weeks, the vessels will be verified by classification society RINA, at which point the total volume of fuel savings will be confirmed. However, two of the vessels have already been in operation following the initial retrofit measures and show signs of meeting their anticipated efficiency goals. The fuel savings will additionally reduce the vessels’ OPEX considerably.
The project prepares the four bulk carriers for operations in compliance with recent regulations including Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), and Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI). The work undertaken will also extend the lifetime of the vessels by an expected twelve years.
While Damen performed the retrofit of the vessels, Atal Solutions arranged the US$123.7 million funding for the project. Atal provided a supplier’s credit amounting to US$105.2 million, requiring the vessel owners to provide just 15% equity, and having a 12 year repayment period with competitive interest rates.
